why i went vegan

people always ask me “what made you go vegan?” and they always end up regretting asking.

in summer 2022, i started experiencing constant chest pain and heart issues. there were days where it felt like the wind was knocked out of me. doctors told me they were just severe panic attacks, but i knew it was more than that. if the doctors weren’t going to help, i was going to start making changes.

i decided to cut out dairy in september 2022. it definitely wasn’t easy and i definitely was not consistent for awhile. but i knew that dairy had effected my family’s health and i was not immune to that. in october 2022, i said “my best friend is vegetarian. my sibling has been vegetarian for 6 years. i might as well just go vegan.” and the rest was history. i now experience a lot less medical issues and feel more motivated to add wellness into my day to day.

i wasn’t a “good vegan” for the first 6 months of my new lifestyle. i wasn’t checking ingredients as much as i should, i was eating gelatin and honey. instead of learning how to cook good vegan meals with nutritious ingredients, i was living off of spaghetti and vegan boxed mac n cheese. i was confused why i was feeling so gross. so i started cooking recipes that prioritized protein and whole foods. and i realized how fun and healthy vegan could be while protecting animals.

as i started doing more research and getting vegan accounts recommended to me, i started learning about the ethics of the meat industry and what goes into animal-derived products. i have always been anti-establishment and vocal about it. this was just a new establishment to tack on. it became easier to cut out things like honey and dairy when i had the knowledge of the sheer amount of abuse those animals endure for our benefit.

so, while i started my journey for my health, i continue it for the animals and myself. i feel more mindful, at peace, energetic, and confident in this lifestyle. i know it isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great place to start healing yourself and your home.

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